Educational dinners in Queens typically do not work with my schedule as I only periodically work in the borough. However, my schedule aligned with a dinner being held at Il Toscano - and since the topic was of particular interest to me I made plans to attend. Two of my colleagues who were joining had great things to say about the restaurant, so I was really excited to check it out. There seems to be two Il Toscanos, one in Commack and the other here in Douglaston. The latter is conveniently located right by the LIRR - you can actually park in the station's lot and they'll validate it. Walking in, I was immediately greeted with old school vibes - the restaurant opened in 1985 and it doesn't look like the styling was changed much. That's a complement by the way - it doesn't look dated and has been kept up and refreshed in a very strategic way. In addition to the main level dining room, they have an upstairs dining room where we were seated. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that we had full access to their menu, and were able to order an appetizer, entree, and dessert. This is rare when going to one of these dinners, as I'm usually limited to certain menu items. They don't have a large menu - sections are marked off for apps, salads, pastas, and entrees. I decided to start off with the Mediterranean pulpo; I really enjoyed this - it was a sizeable octopus leg which was served with white beans and andouille sausage all in a tasty Romanesco sauce. All of the flavors worked really well together. For my main I went with the Semolina Crusted Jumbo Shrimp. The shrimp were lightly breaded and served with crispy leeks and risotto. The dish was good - the shrimp were a good size and the risotto was cooked well. At this point my colleagues and I all wanted to try each other's dishes so we did some swaps. One of them had ravioli stuffed with spinach and cheese which was quite good. My other colleague had the lasagna which was made with a bolognese and béchamel sauces; this was good too - the béchamel was an interesting addition and the pasta was cooked al dente. For dessert I had their signature Napoleon which was super creamy but also light and airy; the flavor and texture were on point. Service was great, food came out a good pace in relation to the presentation and everyone was friendly. Overall, I had a great time at Il Toscano - this was one of the best educational dinners I've been to in a while and part of that is due to the great experience that the restaurant provided. I would definitely return for another meal.
Nora F.
We came here in January and the weather was pretty cold that evening. The restaurant has a perfect location, next to the LIRR Douglaston's station for those who plan to come by train and they offer a parking space and valet service for those who drive. We had a nice section in a small room just for the four of us. We had privacy but the table outside had an engagement party so they were pretty loud. Hubby's friend and his wife came to the restaurant many times. They recommended Lobster dinner. Our waiter, Miller, was a good waiter, knowledgeable and attentive. So both Hubby and I ordered the lobster. However, before the entree, we ordered two appetizers: asparagus mushroom and broccoli rabe. Both appetizers were nice but I didn't think broccoli rabe was that great, it was ok. However, the lobster asparagus, and mushroom were very good. The lobster dish was tasty. Our friends had crusted shrimp. That looked pretty good. After the meal, we had desserts because we were worth it ha! The manager came up to us to ensure a great service. Even the people from the party came up to us to apologize for the noise but that's ok, the couple is getting married so we forgave them lol. Nice food and experience. Great service from the team. Thanks!
Tiffany L.
4.5 Dropped 1/2 a star from a grumpy waiter but the food was surprisingly good. I had no expectations walking in but it was pretty busy for a random rainy weds night. We got 3 apps to share; the soup of the day which was a white bean and hearty green veg with bread, the mushroom Wellington (not a Wellington bc the puff pastry was just on top) and the foie gras special. Portions are generous! We devoured everything but they had burnt the toast that came with the foie gras which was disappointing and I was hoping the pastry on the Wellington would be wrapped around the asparagus and mushroom but it was still good nonetheless. I was a big fan of the soup. Creamy and savory but not over salted like most soups. I had the Long Island duck as my main which was again a big portion and cooked to a perfect medium. The sauce was a little on the sweet side but it was very good. My husband's ravioli was creamy and the pasta was fresh and cheesy. We ended the meal with panna cotta and espresso. Overall a great date night spot and might be our go to in the neighborhood for a nice treat!
Emmanuel Amazing
We went many times, their food quality amazing and service great .
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Intelpro
I normally love this restaurant. Last night, though, was somewhat disappointing. I ordered the special salmon, and it was not as fresh as it should've been, having a little bit of a fishy taste. The lady who took our order and recite the menu was exceptional. However, the rest of the service staff was a little disappointing. Hence four stars. I know my other guests very much enjoyed the shrimp entrée that's on the menu.
K D
Always a great meal
Patrick N.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant in the area. They have homemade pasta with fresh ingredients. Their service is great. The ambiance is cozy without being too pretentious. I had their special entree of quail last time. It had good flavors and tender
MaryH
Very accommodating staff and the food was delicious. When I reserved I noted anniversary as I think a question was asked about the occasion. Nothing was said at the restaurant so not sure why question was asked when reservation was made. I also changed the reservation to 15 minutes later so maybe the initial information did not carry over. My husband got an appetizer portion of the special that night of gnocchi with lamb and the duck for dinner. He said both were outstanding. I got the mushroom Wellington as an app. Had asparagus as well. The mushrooms were so flavorful. I had the lobster toscano and it was delicious with a lot of lobster. The food was definitely worth a return trip and they do not rush you through your meal. Finally the mascarpone cheesecake was so silky and creamy with an amazing crust. Perfection! It was a wonderful way to celebrate our 31 year anniversary.
edwards
Many people working but only 1 waiter for entire restaurant thus never followed up with us during meal to see if we needed anything. Filet of dover sole although delicious was $52!
Carolyn
Used to be one of my most favorite restaurants. This evening, bread, per usual, was not warmed, neither was dinner plate. Swordfish was hot, but Vegetables barely warm. The swordfish was very good. The vegetable servings were ridiculously small, maybe a tablespoon of the creamed cauliflower if that much and a tiny sampling of mixed mushrooms. Price was high, of course. Others who had pastas said they were good, not superb. Desserts though, were outstanding: Neopolitan and Creme Brule. I have only yes or no re recommendation. I would say, " Maybe." A disappointment. Tips are advised to be in cash. In effect, doesn't that mean the wait persons don't pay taxes on the tips and the management doesn't pay benefits to the government for the wait persons future ( at least as I understand it.) The waitress came to complain to me about her tip. I did not pay 20% as I typically do at most restaurants. I gave her what I thought was a reasonable amount. I'm sorry she felt disappointed. Frankly why should a waitperson at a less expensive restaurant earn so little on tips based on menu prices, while those at expensive places earn so much more more for similar or less work. I try to even things out in my own small way.
Outstanding meal!!!! The lobster was unreal! We also had the gnocchi special w lamb sausage eggplant and sundried tomatoes as a shared app. Then we had a special salad and the chopped romaine salad which was so fresh and light. Then...we shared bw 4 people - 2 lobster specials which may have been the best thing I've EVER had IN MY LIFE!!! And the lasagna which sounds boring...it was anything but that! It was so flavorful and comforting. Hands down one of the best restaurants in NY!!!! Also, our servers were attentive professional and very accommodating!!! Thank you Il Toscano. See you very soon!!!!
tracyb
Always a wonderful experience at Il Toscano. The food and service are always consistently top notch! It's an old time elegant place with food that's both traditional and modern and delicious
Ernesto Ruiz
Parking was created (valet paid by the restaurant), the place is a little too crowded tables are very close to each other, when the waiter starts with the specials it is difficult to hear it all, after we decided to use de menu, you can’t order the appetizer in advance while you look for the entree has to be all at once, after you ordered the waiter ignores you, to paid took like 10 minutes to get the credit card back to sign
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Calamari Fritti, Homemade Napoleon
Ryan West
AMAZING MEAL! Octopus was tender and delicious ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stacey S.
Walked in around 6:45 on Thursday, 2/15/24, and got a table without a reservation. Every seat at the bar was taken so we ordered cocktails at the table. I requested a drink from their post on facebook, the orange infused cosmopolitan, and received something similar (see pics), ha. It was tasty, nonetheless. I had to order my favorites, so we had the lasagna and the lobster pasta. Our server, Eugene, was fantastic. His suggestion of the Pinot Noir Glos Clark & Telephone was a great choice.
Educational dinners in Queens typically do not work with my schedule as I only periodically work in the borough. However, my schedule aligned with a dinner being held at Il Toscano - and since the topic was of particular interest to me I made plans to attend. Two of my colleagues who were joining had great things to say about the restaurant, so I was really excited to check it out. There seems to be two Il Toscanos, one in Commack and the other here in Douglaston. The latter is conveniently located right by the LIRR - you can actually park in the station's lot and they'll validate it. Walking in, I was immediately greeted with old school vibes - the restaurant opened in 1985 and it doesn't look like the styling was changed much. That's a complement by the way - it doesn't look dated and has been kept up and refreshed in a very strategic way. In addition to the main level dining room, they have an upstairs dining room where we were seated. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that we had full access to their menu, and were able to order an appetizer, entree, and dessert. This is rare when going to one of these dinners, as I'm usually limited to certain menu items. They don't have a large menu - sections are marked off for apps, salads, pastas, and entrees. I decided to start off with the Mediterranean pulpo; I really enjoyed this - it was a sizeable octopus leg which was served with white beans and andouille sausage all in a tasty Romanesco sauce. All of the flavors worked really well together. For my main I went with the Semolina Crusted Jumbo Shrimp. The shrimp were lightly breaded and served with crispy leeks and risotto. The dish was good - the shrimp were a good size and the risotto was cooked well. At this point my colleagues and I all wanted to try each other's dishes so we did some swaps. One of them had ravioli stuffed with spinach and cheese which was quite good. My other colleague had the lasagna which was made with a bolognese and béchamel sauces; this was good too - the béchamel was an interesting addition and the pasta was cooked al dente. For dessert I had their signature Napoleon which was super creamy but also light and airy; the flavor and texture were on point. Service was great, food came out a good pace in relation to the presentation and everyone was friendly. Overall, I had a great time at Il Toscano - this was one of the best educational dinners I've been to in a while and part of that is due to the great experience that the restaurant provided. I would definitely return for another meal.
We came here in January and the weather was pretty cold that evening. The restaurant has a perfect location, next to the LIRR Douglaston's station for those who plan to come by train and they offer a parking space and valet service for those who drive. We had a nice section in a small room just for the four of us. We had privacy but the table outside had an engagement party so they were pretty loud. Hubby's friend and his wife came to the restaurant many times. They recommended Lobster dinner. Our waiter, Miller, was a good waiter, knowledgeable and attentive. So both Hubby and I ordered the lobster. However, before the entree, we ordered two appetizers: asparagus mushroom and broccoli rabe. Both appetizers were nice but I didn't think broccoli rabe was that great, it was ok. However, the lobster asparagus, and mushroom were very good. The lobster dish was tasty. Our friends had crusted shrimp. That looked pretty good. After the meal, we had desserts because we were worth it ha! The manager came up to us to ensure a great service. Even the people from the party came up to us to apologize for the noise but that's ok, the couple is getting married so we forgave them lol. Nice food and experience. Great service from the team. Thanks!
4.5 Dropped 1/2 a star from a grumpy waiter but the food was surprisingly good. I had no expectations walking in but it was pretty busy for a random rainy weds night. We got 3 apps to share; the soup of the day which was a white bean and hearty green veg with bread, the mushroom Wellington (not a Wellington bc the puff pastry was just on top) and the foie gras special. Portions are generous! We devoured everything but they had burnt the toast that came with the foie gras which was disappointing and I was hoping the pastry on the Wellington would be wrapped around the asparagus and mushroom but it was still good nonetheless. I was a big fan of the soup. Creamy and savory but not over salted like most soups. I had the Long Island duck as my main which was again a big portion and cooked to a perfect medium. The sauce was a little on the sweet side but it was very good. My husband's ravioli was creamy and the pasta was fresh and cheesy. We ended the meal with panna cotta and espresso. Overall a great date night spot and might be our go to in the neighborhood for a nice treat!
We went many times, their food quality amazing and service great .
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
I normally love this restaurant. Last night, though, was somewhat disappointing. I ordered the special salmon, and it was not as fresh as it should've been, having a little bit of a fishy taste. The lady who took our order and recite the menu was exceptional. However, the rest of the service staff was a little disappointing. Hence four stars. I know my other guests very much enjoyed the shrimp entrée that's on the menu.
Always a great meal
This is my favorite Italian restaurant in the area. They have homemade pasta with fresh ingredients. Their service is great. The ambiance is cozy without being too pretentious. I had their special entree of quail last time. It had good flavors and tender
Very accommodating staff and the food was delicious. When I reserved I noted anniversary as I think a question was asked about the occasion. Nothing was said at the restaurant so not sure why question was asked when reservation was made. I also changed the reservation to 15 minutes later so maybe the initial information did not carry over. My husband got an appetizer portion of the special that night of gnocchi with lamb and the duck for dinner. He said both were outstanding. I got the mushroom Wellington as an app. Had asparagus as well. The mushrooms were so flavorful. I had the lobster toscano and it was delicious with a lot of lobster. The food was definitely worth a return trip and they do not rush you through your meal. Finally the mascarpone cheesecake was so silky and creamy with an amazing crust. Perfection! It was a wonderful way to celebrate our 31 year anniversary.
Many people working but only 1 waiter for entire restaurant thus never followed up with us during meal to see if we needed anything. Filet of dover sole although delicious was $52!
Used to be one of my most favorite restaurants. This evening, bread, per usual, was not warmed, neither was dinner plate. Swordfish was hot, but Vegetables barely warm. The swordfish was very good. The vegetable servings were ridiculously small, maybe a tablespoon of the creamed cauliflower if that much and a tiny sampling of mixed mushrooms. Price was high, of course. Others who had pastas said they were good, not superb. Desserts though, were outstanding: Neopolitan and Creme Brule. I have only yes or no re recommendation. I would say, " Maybe." A disappointment. Tips are advised to be in cash. In effect, doesn't that mean the wait persons don't pay taxes on the tips and the management doesn't pay benefits to the government for the wait persons future ( at least as I understand it.) The waitress came to complain to me about her tip. I did not pay 20% as I typically do at most restaurants. I gave her what I thought was a reasonable amount. I'm sorry she felt disappointed. Frankly why should a waitperson at a less expensive restaurant earn so little on tips based on menu prices, while those at expensive places earn so much more more for similar or less work. I try to even things out in my own small way.
Restaurantji Recommends
Outstanding meal!!!! The lobster was unreal! We also had the gnocchi special w lamb sausage eggplant and sundried tomatoes as a shared app. Then we had a special salad and the chopped romaine salad which was so fresh and light. Then...we shared bw 4 people - 2 lobster specials which may have been the best thing I've EVER had IN MY LIFE!!! And the lasagna which sounds boring...it was anything but that! It was so flavorful and comforting. Hands down one of the best restaurants in NY!!!! Also, our servers were attentive professional and very accommodating!!! Thank you Il Toscano. See you very soon!!!!
Always a wonderful experience at Il Toscano. The food and service are always consistently top notch! It's an old time elegant place with food that's both traditional and modern and delicious
Parking was created (valet paid by the restaurant), the place is a little too crowded tables are very close to each other, when the waiter starts with the specials it is difficult to hear it all, after we decided to use de menu, you can’t order the appetizer in advance while you look for the entree has to be all at once, after you ordered the waiter ignores you, to paid took like 10 minutes to get the credit card back to sign
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Calamari Fritti, Homemade Napoleon
AMAZING MEAL! Octopus was tender and delicious ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Walked in around 6:45 on Thursday, 2/15/24, and got a table without a reservation. Every seat at the bar was taken so we ordered cocktails at the table. I requested a drink from their post on facebook, the orange infused cosmopolitan, and received something similar (see pics), ha. It was tasty, nonetheless. I had to order my favorites, so we had the lasagna and the lobster pasta. Our server, Eugene, was fantastic. His suggestion of the Pinot Noir Glos Clark & Telephone was a great choice.